Paralympic movement in Malaysia: The achievement of high-performance para sports - Paralympic Council of Malaysia

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Journal Sport Area
Journal Sport Area - 6 (1), 2021, 67 - 75
Nagoor   Meera Abdullah., et al
http://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/JSP
Vol. 6. No. 1. April, (2021)

     Paralympic movement in Malaysia: The achievement of
                 high-performance para sports
                         Nagoor Meera Abdullah1,* , Mohan Govindasamy2,
                        Megat Shahriman Zaharudin2, Subramanian Raman Nair2

                                       Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia1
                                     Paralympic Council of Malaysia, Malaysia2

                        Received: 25 August 2020; Accepted 15 January 2021; Published 09 February 2021
                                                     Ed 2021; 6(1): 67-75

                                                  ABSTRACT
The article elaborates on the achievement of the Malaysian athletes with disabilities locally and also in
international scenes. Malaysian athletes start to participate in international competition since 1962, and local
games had been organized back in 1982 with the introduction of the Paralympic Games. The article also
illustrates the medal achievement where Malaysian contingent achieved a total of 1700 medals at the ASEAN
Para Games from 2001-2017. In FESPIC and Asian Para Games, a total of 582 medals was won from the year
1982-2018. At the FESPIC and Asian Youth Para Games, a total of 189 medals won from the year 2003-2017.
The highest achievement came from the Paralympic games as Malaysian won 11 medals in total from the year
1962-2016. More need to be done to establish para sports in Malaysia with the support of every parties including
the government and the media.

Keywords: Paralympic movement; training; medals; para sports

    https://doi.org/10.25299/sportarea.2021.vol6(1).5504

Copyright © 2021 Nagoor Meera Abdullah, Mohan Govindasamy, Megat Shahriman Zaharudin, Subramanian Raman Nair

Corresponding author: Nagoor Meera Abdullah, Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah
Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Email: nameera_ab@yahoo.com.my

How To Cite: Abdullah, N. M., Govindasamy, M., Zaharudin, M. S., & Nair, S. R. (2020). Paralympic movement in Malaysia:
The       achievement      of      high-performance  para   sports.     Journal     Sport     Area,    6(1),    67-75.
https://doi.org/10.25299/sportarea.2020.vol6(1).5504

INTRODUCTION
   The nature of sports for the people with disabilities was similar as the sports for the able-bodied where
there are many advantages such as developed endurance and strength, performance enhancement, develop
strongest mind, increased self-confidence, and also quality of life improvement (Abdullah et al., 2008). In
recent decades the Paralympic movement had transformed significantly around the world (Howe, 2008;
Thomas & Smith, 2009). Recreation and rehabilitative purpose are the prime intention of the Paralympic
Movement, until it evolves into several type of competitive sport that provide pathways to the emerge of the
Paralympic Games. The main idea of the Paralympic Movement is to show the determination, courage,
ability through high-performance sport. These are the real expression of determination and the exploration
of one's boundaries to achieve what people think is not realistic (Bailey, 2008). Persons with disabilities can
make their own choice in terms to improve themselves through exercise rehabilitations and develop their
skills in various sports. Because of that, they can possibly start to dedicate their life into sports at the same
time to enhance their quality of life (QoL). The Paralympic Games is a sporting platform for persons with
disabilities to demonstrate their willingness to overcome their challenges (Jee 2018).

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   The study of para-athletes has certain methodological challenges. Many studies lack randomisation and
few have control groups against which comparisons can be made. There are less scientists who understand
the athlete with an impairment leading to fragmentation in the scientific literature (Thompson &
Vanlandewijck, 2013). But even though still new, the impressive progress achieved in the performance of
the para-athletes can be seen through higher achievements of new world records and this is contributed
largely to the knowledge on different training approach and their dedication in their practice and also the
sport science element. The world is now seeing the progressive in professional involvement of international
disability sport is, with the high interest and attention given by the communities to the sports of athletes with
disabilities (Doll-Tepper, 2002; Innenmoser, 2002; Keuther, 2000; Quade, 2000; Scheid et al., 2000). This is
also significant with the current transform is changing the landscape of the Paralympic movement in
Malaysia. This article is evidence of the emergence of the Paralympic movement in Malaysia.

The History of the Paralympic Movement
   It was fifty years ago when the Paralympic Movement were developed as a superb milestone for para-
athletes. All began in July 1948, at the same time when the Games of the XIVth Olympiad opened in
London, a German neurosurgeon named Ludwig Guttmann, who been offered to establish Stoke Mandeville
Spinal Injuries Unit in Aylesbury in 1944, mooted the idea that sport can be as part of a process of
rehabilitation for patients with spinal injuries. He then organized a small sports competition for 16 Second
World War veterans with spinal cord injuries at Stoke Mandeville hospital in England (Lenskyj & Wagg,
2012). His opinion states that there are three important things why persons with disabilities need to be
engage in sports; a) sport as a curative factor, b) the recreational and psychological value of sport and c)
sport as a mean of social re-integration (Brittain, 2012).
   As his involvement in physical activity is getting more serious, he can view the idea to assemble people
with similar injuries together: sport assits them to meet and try to achieve for own goals. The first Stoke
Mandeville Games has been organized on the same day with the opening day of the Olympic Games was
being held in London in 1948. Now, the Paralympic Movement is established as a global sporting
phenomenon with a superb celebration of competitive sports that enlighthen the dreams, with many are
participating to achieve excellence (Bailey, 2008). The Paralympic Games is surely a global interest for
disability sport and some past studies have proof that it can have a major impact upon perceptions regarding
people with disabilities for both non-disabled society and for other people with disabilities, some of whom
may be inspired to participate in sport (Brittain, 2010).

Paralympic Term
    The term 'Paralympics' has been in debate over so many years. In Malaysia, there are different ways that
individuals and organizations (including people in the National Para Sports Associations- NPSA) have used
it, and how the description of the origins and the meaning. Those days, the term for the games always
mentioned ‘para’ that was associated with paraplegia, combined with ‘Olympic’ – it has been associated
with the Olympic games itself (Bailey, 2008). As time progressed, the International Coordinating Committee
(the committee before the formation of International Paralympics Committee-IPC) carefully discussed and
came up with the word of ‘para’ as ‘being attached to’ or ‘parallel to’– to recognized that the Paralympics
were been explained as the involvement of disability groups competing in a larger scale of the sporting
events that were equally as the Olympic Games (Bailey, 2008). Even Guttmann (Guttmann, 1949) strongly
wanted the use of the word ‘Olympic’ must be exist, and this is where International Olympic Committee is
reluctant to recognize because to protect its copyright. He is firm with his decision that along in his living
years, he accepts the games as the "Olympics" and the sport for the disabled was as ideal in terms of the
spirit of the Olympic Games for the able-bodied' (Jennings, 1996). The word ''Paralympic'' has been
combined from three sources: The Latin word ''par'' (''similar'' or ''the same''), the Greek word ''para'' (''next
to'' or ''alongside''), and the ''Olympics'' (the Paralympic Games is being held parallel to the Olympic
Games)' (Reinecke & Reiff, 2002). The official name as the Paralympic Games had been recognised since
1988 edition in Seoul, Korea (Bailey, 2008).

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History of the Paralympic Movement in Malaysia
   In Malaysia, the competition for persons with disabilities started in 1962 (or maybe later). It was not a
very encouraging situation when there is a lack of related activities and finances. The involvement at the
international level began in 1962 when H.R.M Storey came back to Malaysia, after meeting with Ludwig
Guttmann to establish a powerlifting team. The team consisted of one athlete and one manager represents
Malaysia at the 19th International Stoke Mandeville Games 1970. Malaysia also took part in the 1970
Commonwealth Games, held in Edinburgh, Scotland where they bring home a silver medal. This is
considered as a good milestone in competitive sports for the disabled in Malaysia.

Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) or NPC Malaysia
   Mr H.R.M Storey, the late founder of Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia, Mr. H.R. M.
Storey dispatch a Malaysian contingent to Stoke Mandeville Games in early 1970. He together with Y. Bhg
Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin, Mr. Kassim Abd Rahman and Mr. Radha Krishnan mooted the idea of forming
‘Majlis Sukan Orang Cacat Malaysia' and quickly registered it with Registrar of Societies on 18 May 1989,
with their intention to developed sports for disabled persons in Malaysia and gave chance to the nation best
athletes to compete at the Asian and International levels games. In 1996, the Majlis Sukan Orang Cacat
Malaysia had been changed their name to Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) (also known as “Majlis
Paralimpik Malaysia”) and MPC eventually was recognized by the Government as a sole National Sports
Body for the Disabled.
   A non-profit organization named the Malaysian Sports Council for the Disabled was established in 1989
and then changed to Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) in 1996. The MPC had seven affiliates,
including disability organizations, which represent six disability categories such as visual impairment,
intellectual disability, physical disability, hearing impairment, dwarfs and cerebral palsy. The first national
competition was held in Kuala Lumpur in 1982, with 2 sports being contested (track and field and
swimming). The biennial games were held by the Malaysian Council of Rehabilitation together been
assisted by the Development of Social Welfare Services. In 1998, the first national games were held called
Sukan Paralimpiad Malaysia. There were many editions of the games were held, and it was getting bigger in
terms of participation of the athletes across the nation, with various disability/condition.
   In 1992, the para-sports were placed under the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development by the
Malaysian government then and approved an allocation of funds for the development of disability sports.
The para-sports eventually grew slowly but progressively and in 2003, the government decided to place
para-sports from the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development to the Ministry of Youth and
Sports (under National Sports Council). This is to ensure that the allocation of funds can be channeled to
conduct proper systematic training and development of para-athletes.

National Competition -Malaysian Paralimpiad
   Since 1982, Malaysian Paralimpiad is a biennially multisports and multievent sports competition been
organised. Formerly it was called National Sport for the Disabled, then changed to the Malaysian
Paralympiad in 1998. Athletics and swimming were the two only sports in the programme from 1982 to
1996. The sports programmes increased where 20 sports—judo, athletics, swimming, sitting volleyball,
archery, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, lawn bowls, badminton, powerlifting, table tennis,
goalball, fencing, boccia, cycling, football, shooting, tenpin bowling, sailing and chess in 2006. The number
of participants also increased significantly from 550 participants at the first games in 1982 to 1207 in 2006.
The games got a boost when ASEAN countries participated in 1990 and, in 2002, some countries from
Asian region also participated. Since 1992, various states in Malaysia were hosting the games. This only
possible with the support from the state governments, the Ministry of National Unity and Social
Development, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Athletics Amateur Associations. The main
objective of the Malaysian Paralympiad as a platform to identify athletes who were talented and also at the
same time to develop more local coaches, technical officials and classifiers. The name of the championship

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was called as Paralimpiad Malaysia from its 10 to 18 editions. In 2018, the Ministry of Youth & Sports took
over and changed its name to Para SUKMA starting from 19th edition onwards in Perak (refer table 1).

                          Table 1. Overall Participation in the Malaysian Paralimpiad Games
                                                                         No. of        Total
   Year           Host          No of participating states/countries                             Organized by
                                                                         sports       athletes
   1982       Kuala Lumpur                        14                       2            550      SWD & MCR
   1984         Selangor                          14                       2            650      SWD & MCR
   1986          Penang                           14                       2            750      SWD & MCR
   1988         Kelantan                          15                       2            828      SWD & MCR
   1990         Malacca            17 (including ASEAN countries)          2            853      SDW & MCR
   1992        Terengganu          17 (including ASEAN countries)          2            980      PCM & state
   1994          Johore            15 (including ASEAN countries)          2           1200      PCM & state
   1996         Sarawak            19 (including ASEAN countries)          2            978      PCM & state
   1998         Selangor                          14                       10           877      PCM & state
   2000       Kuala Lumpur         23 (including ASEAN countries)          17          1239         PCM
   2002       Kuala Lumpur         23 (including ASEAN countries)          16           937         PCM
   2004       Kuala Lumpur                        15                       20          1081         PCM
   2006       Kuala Lumpur                        15                       16          1203         PCM
   2008       Kuala Lumpur                        15                       14          1910         PCM
   2010         Malacca                           15                       16          1368      PCM & state
   2012          Pahang                           15                       17          1900      PCM & state
   2014           Perlis                          15                       9           1000         Perlis
   2016         Sarawak                           15                       9           1407        Sarawak
   2018           Perak                  15 (PARASUKMA)                    10          1244         Perak
   2020           Johor                    (PARASUKMA)
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia
*SWD -Social Welfare Department
*MCR -Malaysia Council of Rehabilitation
*PCM- Paralympic Council of Malaysia

Malaysia Para Athletes at the International Scene
   Malaysian para-athletes have already achieved commendable recognition through their performance at
the international level. This achievement needs to be exposed so that people in Malaysia and other parts of
the world can view this as a progress towards their success in participation and medal prospect winning.
This is to show that Malaysia para-athletes also contribute to the development of sports in Malaysia. Since
there are no articles available to date regarding the achievement of Malaysian para-athletes, this can be a
reference for any parties who are interested. The data are extracted from the main source that is from
Paralympic Council of Malaysia. Team Malaysia or the Malaysian contingent participate at the 1 st ASEAN
Para Games held at their backyard in 2001. Since then, never missed participating in each edition of the
games.

                               Table 2. Malaysia Achievement in ASEAN Para Games
  Ed       Year        Host city          Country        No of athlete Gold      Silver     Bronze       Total
  1st      2001      Kuala Lumpur         Malaysia           188       143        136         92          371
  2nd      2003         Hanoi              Vietnam           102        56         41         45          142
  3rd      2005         Manila           Philippines         118        80         41         30          151
  4th      2008        Nakhon              Thailand          180        82         74         46          202
                      Ratchasima
   5th     2009      Kuala Lumpur         Malaysia           258        94         81         71          246
   6th     2011          Solo             Indonesia          122        51         36         45          132
   7th     2014       Naypyidaw           Myanmar            232        50         49         41          140
   8th     2015       Singapore           Singapore          191        52         58         47          157
  9th      2017      Kuala Lumpur         Malaysia           331        90         85         83          258
  10th     2020         Manila           Philippines                   Canceled due to COVID-19
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia

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   Malaysia achieved a good result since the first edition (refer table 2), from only two sports (athletics and
swimming) contribute the total medal tally to the distribution of the medal tally from 13 sports during the
2017 edition. This shows that the nation did not have a shortage of athletes when exposing their talent to the
international arena. The host country decides the total number of events and usually, they will decide on
some of the games that they are capable to win more medals rather than just organize any sports. Of course,
the same issues will arise when organizing the games for the disabled is that the total number of events, the
medals distributions, the classifications are the items that always been debated to get consensus from each
participating country.
   Malaysia has also been participating in Asian Para Games in the latest three editions since 2010 in
Guangzhou, China. Before the establishment of the ASIAN para-Games, the FESPIC Games or Far East and
South Pacific Games for the Disabled was the multi-sports games in Asia and South Pacific were held from
1975 until 2006. The FESPIC games had been organized because there were limited opportunities for
persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific to participate in sports at the time. The establishement of the
new organization called the Asian Paralympic Council in Busan in 2002 with Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin,
president of the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC), as the first founding president. The Asian
Paralympic Committee (APC) have been established in 2006 from the mergeing exercise between the Asian
Paralympic Council and the FESPIC Federation. Dato’ Zainal was elected as the president for the APC. The
Asian Para Games have been organized from the establishment of APC since 2010, replace the FESPIC
Games (refer table 3).

                                  Table 3. Malaysia Achievement in FESPIC Games
  Ed    Year          Host city            Host country       No. of athlete    G           S           B     Total
  1st   1975            Oita                   Japan                         Did not participate
  2nd   1977         Parramatta              Australia                       Did not participate
  3rd   1982          Sha Tin               Hong Kong               30          7          13           7       27
  4th   1986            Solo                 Indonesia              46          19         22           12      53
  5th   1989            Kobe                   Japan                26          4          15           18      37
  6th   1994           Beijing                 China                52          1          15           18      34
  7th   1999          Bangkok                 Thailand              54          1          10           9       20
  8th   2002           Busan                South Korea             158         2          28           37      67
  9th   2006        Kuala Lumpur             Malaysia               288         44         60           71     171
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia

   The last edition was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when the country was allowed to host a larger scale
of multi-sports events for the para-athletes. Then in 2004, the FESPIC Federation has been dissolved and the
Asian Para Games took place (refer table 4).

                                 Table 4. Malaysia Achievement in Asian Para Games
                                                                  No. of
   Ed        Year          Host city          Host country                     G          S        B         Total
                                                                  athlete
   1st       2010         Guangzhou               China             115        9          13       23          45
   2nd       2014           Incheon           South Korea           128        15         20       27          62
   3rd       2018            Jakarta            Indonesia           126        17         26       25          68
   4th       2022          Hangzhou               China                            future games
   5th       2026           Nagoya                Japan                            future games
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia

   Malaysia also participated in the FESPIC Youth games and Asian Youth Para Games. This is a good
platform for the youth para-athletes to show their courage and determination to excel at this stage (refer
table 5). Unlike the able-bodied sport where it enjoyed the full participation as early years and sustained
support of young talented athletes that can sustain the level of competitiveness at the high level sports
participation in the long term (Figott & Collins, 2004), the scenario is different when involving disabled
athletes.

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               Table 5. Malaysian Achievement in FESPIC Youth Games and Asian Youth Para Games
                                                               No. of
   Ed        Year          Host city        Host country                    G        S       B        Total
                                                               athlete
                                              FESPIC Youth Games
   1st       2003         Hong Kong          Hong Kong           48         36      36      27          99
                                            Asian Youth Para Games
   1st       2009           Tokyo               Japan            83         5        7      10          22
   2nd       2013        Kuala Lumpur          Malaysia          200        19      22      18          59
   3rd       2017            Dubai                UAE                12          5         1   2        9
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia

   Malaysia athletes also took part in the Paralympics games since the games held in Heidelberg 1972.
Participation by Malaysian athletes at the international stage shows that they can be the best among the rest.
Although this is a world-class event, Malaysian athletes show that can excel and even won medals (refer to
table 6).

                               Table 6. Malaysian Participation at the Paralympics Games
                                                              No. of athletes
    Year           Host city            Host country                                G      S   B      Total
                                                              M            F
    1972          Heidelberg            W Germany              4           0        0      0   0        0
    1988             Seoul                S. Korea            12           2        0      0   1        1
    1992          Barcelona                Spain              10           0        0      1   2        3
    1996            Atlanta                 USA                6           0        0      0   0        0
    2000            Sydney               Australia             8           2        0      0   0        0
    2004            Athens                 Greece             15           4        0      0   0        0
    2008            Beijing                China               8           3        0      0   1        1
    2012           London                 England             16           6        0      1   1        2
    2016        Rio de Janeiro             Brazil             17           2        3      0   1        4
    2020            Tokyo                  Japan                                       ?
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia

   The Paralympic Games is an international multi-sports event that take participation interest of the para
athletes, including from muscle power impairment (e.g., paraplegia, quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, post-
polio syndrome and spina bifida), passive range of movement impairment, limb deficiency (e.g., amputation
or dysmelia), leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment to
intellectual impairment (International Paralympic Committee [IPC], 2018). The proof that so many para-
athletes from different countries are participating shows that the game is getting the imelight from the globe.
Para-athletes have already won medals since 1988 edition with 1 bronze in weightlifting from Mariappan
Perumal. In 1992, para-athletes brought back medals from weightlifting (1 silver and 1 bronze) again from
P. Mariappan and Cheok Kon Fatt and athletics (1 bronze) from Mohamad Khasseri Othman. In Beijing
2008, Siew Lee Chan ended Malaysia’s 16 years without any medals by bagging a bronze medal in
powerlifting. In 2012, Hasihin Senawi won an only bronze medal in the men’s individual recurve W1/W2
(wheelchair category). And in 2016, history was created when Malaysia bagging 3 gold medals and 1 bronze
medal (all from athletics) from Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Abdul Latif Romly, and Muhammad
Ziyad Zolkefli, while a bronze came from Siti Noor Radiah Ismail.
   The Commonwealth Games which started in 1930, was held every four years and it was a very unique
game and sometimes called an inclusive game. This is because events for athletes with disabilities were
included in 1992 as exhibition events, and since 2002, it became part of the games program. Every medal
winner was included as a part of the overall medal tally of the participation country (refer table 7).

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                             Table 7. Malaysia Participation at the Commonwealth Games
                                                             No. of athletes
   Year            Host city           Host country                              G       S     B        Total
                                                              M           F
   2002           Manchester              England             9           6      0       1      2         2
   2006           Melbourne              Australia            6           3      0       0      0         0
   2010             Delhi                  India              6           2      0       0      0         0
   2014            Glasgow                Scotland            6           2      0       0      1         1
   2018           Gold Coast             Australia            6           1      0       1      1         2
Source: Paralympic Council of Malaysia

    Malaysia para-athletes won 2 medals at the 2002 edition in Manchester through Mohd Hisham Khaironi
(1 silver in track and field) and Cheok Kon Fatt (1 bronze medal in the bench press). The para team did not
achieve any medals during the 2006 and the 2010 edition. They brought back one bronze medal in 2014
through Jung Yee Khine in powerlifting. During the 2018 edition, Muhammad Afiq Ali won a silver medal
in track and field sprint event and a bronze medal from Yee Khie Jung in powerlifting.

Malaysia Participation in Other Games
   Malaysia also participated in other multisport events that have been organized by the International
Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs), who plays a major part in developing para-sports around
the globe. They are independent organizations recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
act as the sole representatives of a specific impairment group. They give assistance in developing sport for
para-athletes from the grassroots level right to the elite level. They are the governing body for some of the
impairment specific sports in the Paralympic Games program.
   This IOSDs games such as International Blind Sports Federation or IBSA Games, Cerebral Palsy
International Sports and Recreation Association or CPISRA World Games, International Sports Federations
for Persons with Intellectual Disability or INAS Games, International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports
Federation or IWAS Games.

Some Considerations
   The heartbeat of disability sports in Malaysia is within its various rehabilitation centers and national para
sports associations. It is normal to view para-athletes to achieve certain standard of performance at the
highest level. Limited opportunities for them to compete in national competitions is a disadvantage, and with
a small pool of athletes who are ready for competitions as compared to those in regular sports, but not all of
them will be elite athletes. it is needed about two years and more to develop a good para athletes in national
and international competitions (Brazuna & Mauerberg-deCastro, 2001). Unlike some countries who excel in
disability sports such as China, Germany, USA, in the case of Malaysia, there are very few pools of athletes
because they tend to depend on a small pool of para-athletes from the early generation of athletes. Athletes’
quick rise and sustainability in the sport are two important characteristics of disability sports. Para athletes
have limited access to assistive technology and sports equipment, less media coverage and sponsorships ,
issues on ethical and doping, treatment in injuries during their sport involvement, and cases of retirement
(Mauerberg-deCastro & Campbell, 2016).
   One more important thing that need to be look into is the media intention towards athletes with
disabilities. It is not a secret that more severely impaired and female athletes with disabilities are subject to
an even greater level of neglecting by the media. It is argued that para-athletes receive less media attention
in the country due to their bodies, by association of their impairments, contradicting images of athletic type
and normality of the person (Flindall 2018). Female para-athletes are subjected to an even greater level of
discrimination because of their bodies neither suit to ‘normal’ conceptions of athleticism nor
femininity/sexualisation; different from which, particularly female, abled-bodied athletes are often displayed
(Chang et al., 2011; Chang & Crossman, 2009; Schantz & Gilbert, 2001).

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   As with Malaysia government funding for Paralympic sport in future years is consistently depends upon
medal success and so in this situation is, therefore, always on the lookout for the next Paralympic star or at
least a new trend of finding them in order to secure the future funding upon which everyone’s livelihoods
depend. Classification will be another area that need to be strengthen along with the development of the
para-athletes. This matter can be realised when engaging with those interest parties including the medical
personnel, physiotherapist and occupational therapist together with sports technicians.

CONCLUSION
   The overall development of para-sports in Malaysia seems to be very rapidly since 2000. But to view it as
a superb achievement by seeing the results, more need to be done to upgrade the development of para sports
in Malaysia. Even though there are some numerous achievements by the athletes in the international arena,
there are certain issues that need to be looked into. One of the issues been detected is that there is a lack of
any nation-wide cooperation between disability and able-bodied sport as well as a lack of proper structure
high-performance disability sports especially in the state due to inadequate financial and human resources.
More effort through the collaboration from various organizations needs to gather for a tremendous
achievement. This article discussion is limited to the achievement and the evolution of para sports in
Malaysia. Some recommendations that can be elaborated here are the evolution of para sports in Malaysia is
growing but not rapidly. More research, development and innovation need to be organized so that the
achievement is tremendously visible at international arena. Domestically, more funding, seminars,
workshops, trained personnel are some of the elements that need to be look into very detail.

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